Common Flaws to Avoid in Digital Photography

There are a few photography mistakes and problems that are committed by both the newbies as well as the experienced alike. The good news here is that most of these mistakes are possible to rectify with just a bit of know-how.

Strong and Unrealistic Usage of Colors

Strong and unrealistic colors are a fantastic option. However, there is a huge difference between things done purposely and administered in the absence of adequate knowledge or poor color management.

The very first thing that you need here is a monitor that is color calibrated. Without this, you are simply working on images blindly. Several photographers share images that look good to them, but fail to appeal to others.

The screen causes the trouble here. It is hard to retouch an image if you are unable to see the true colors or tones.

Several photographers try to make their photographs appear like paintings. This can be done properly; once again, the necessary expertise is essential here. Instead of raising saturation slider, it helps to find the images where natural colors in the scene are quite strong. Find a subject in a bright color that is surrounded by subdued tones.

Blurry Pictures

Most amateur photographers complain that their images are blurry. If enough light fails to reach the sensor, your camera will struggle to take a sharp image. The best way to solve this issue lies in the usage of a tripod or a monopod. You can also choose higher ISO settings for enhanced shutter speed or use flash for freezing a movement.

Remember that intentional blurs are quite gorgeous but you need to control the sharpness of the images. If you are doing a portrait, the eyes should be at the focus. It needs to be the sharpest part of the image rather than the ear or the nose. Taking the necessary steps is the pre-requisite to get sharper clicks.

Wrong White Balance

If you always shoot with the white balance set at automatic, this will not be an issue for you. But if you set the white balance matching the shooting condition, it is time to observe caution.

Usage of a white balance designed to render warm indoor lights neutral when outside may make the world appear cold. The LCD screen of your camera will act as the savior here. You can check out on it to know of color issues.

If you are shooting outdoor, just a cursory glance at the LCD is not enough. Shade your screen and check out on the color of the image. You can also check color channel histograms for unexpected peaks. If things do not look right, it is time to adjust the white balance.

Lens Distortion

Lenses often make the subjects appear warped. It also introduces undesirable elements in the photo like the loss of brightness or color around the edges of an image. Wide angle lens distorts the perspective and can be quite unflattering for portraits, since the subjects appear as if they are bulging from the frame.

There are several ways to deal with distortion of the lens; the first step here lies in choosing a lens with a focal length perfectly suitable for the subject. You can edit the picture using Adobe Lightroom. Lens profile aids in straightening lines and correcting other issues like chromatic aberration.

Low Resolution

With a desire to squeeze even the last bit of space you can on the memory card, taking photos at a lower resolution is common. This is perfect if you just need to email them or get it posted on Facebook. But if you are eager to print and frame them and use it in a book, you must set your camera at the highest possible resolution to give maximum flexibility.

You can crop and print with confidence, make slideshows or shrink to email. The memory sticks are quite an inexpensive investments ensuring maximum flexibility.

Faraway Subject

In all the photographs that we shoot, we look for something engaging in the frame. In case the subject is very far, it will fail to cast an impact. You can move close using a quality telephoto zoom. You can also crop the image with an image editing software. Shoot the image at highest possible resolution, since cropping reduces quality.

So, now you are aware of the most common mistakes and can dodge them as well. But before you get on with the next photography venture, remember to charge the batteries and keep a few spares in hand. Backup and format the memory cards and check out on it before you leave home. Remember to take off the lens cap. This one stumps even the most seasoned photographers.

TristanTaylor is author at LeraBlog. The author's views are entirely his/her own and may not reflect the views and opinions of LeraBlog staff. Tristan Taylor, a proficient fashion photographer, is associated with various photography workshops, seminars and symposiums. He keeps himself updated with nitty-gritties of fashion photography industry.